Three states: Oregon, Vermont, and Washington, have filed lawsuits against the makers of 5-Hour Energy, a drink that is loaded with caffeine, for deceptive marketing. That product has been linked to 22 deaths reported to the government since 2004. The defendants are Living Essentials and Innovation Ventures. The Oregon complaint alleges that the companies “repeatedly … Read more
The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) has obtained documents from the FDA and has found 17 previously unreported deaths linked to energy drinks. Since 2004, 34 deaths have now been linked to those products. Of those, 22 are linked to 5-Hour Energy, 11 to Monster, and one to Rockstar. In addition to … Read more
Do you know what’s in that dietary or sports supplement you’re taking? Is that energy drink you bought at the checkout counter safe? Maybe not. Energy drinks and supplements, including those marketed as diet or sports aids, fall into the “food” category of products regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Food producers … Read more
The Oregon Department of Justice is demanding that the manufacturers of 5-Hour Energy drinks give them data supporting the company’s advertising claims, according to the Oregonian. That beverage is the subject of an investigation by the FDA, and is facing lawsuits by 33 attorneys general into their marketing campaign. The brand owner, Living Essentials LLC, … Read more
The FDA’s Michael Taylor has released an article in FDA Voice discussing the limits officials are considering putting on caffeine in consumer products. While many products contain caffeine, some naturally and some added, some products, particularly energy drinks, have come under fire in recent years for having too much of the stimulant. Companies are adding caffeine … Read more
A new report called an update on Emergency Department Visits Involving Energy Drinks questions the safety of those products. It is pubished in The DAWN (Drug Abuse Warning Network) for January 10, 2013. The report states that emergency room visits that were related to energy drink use doubled from 10,068 in 2007 to 20,783 in … Read more
A study just published in the online version of JAMA Internal Medicine has found that more than half of all caffeinated dietary supplements carry inaccurate labels. Those products, such as Monster Energy Drink and 5-hour Energy, are being investigated by the FDA because they have been associated with illnesses and death. In fact, Monster Beverages … Read more
The web ad for 5-hour Energy drink has, at least for now, stopped running a web ad criticized by the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI). Last week Food Poisoning Bulletin told you about the ad, which showed CSPI Executive Director Michael F. Jacobson saying it’s difficult to die from caffeine because “Someone … Read more
This week, U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) said they are confident that the FDA is taking their concerns about energy drinks seriously. Those products have been in the news because they have been associated with illnesses and death. In October, Monster Beverages was sued over a 14-year-old child’s death. She developed … Read more
The Center for Science in the Public Interest is warning consumers not to believe a new web ad for 5-hour Energy. The controversial drink is being investigated for its alleged role in 13 deaths. There have been reports from 92 people who became ill after using the product. The product is sold as a “nutritional … Read more